Winning Season Underway: Belles basketball team realizes success on and off the court


The 2009-10 Belles Basketball squad
With one of their best seasons in program history, this year’s basketball team is combining talent and team chemistry to succeed in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA). Their current record is 10-5 overall. Jenn Henley, the head coach, continues to encourage her players. In last year’s conference, the Saint Mary’s basketball team achieved a 13-3 record, and this year, the team is currently third in the conference with a record of 5-2 in conference play.

The team continues to prove that Belles will thrive on and off the court. Anna Kammrath ’10, a biology major with a molecular concentration and minor in chemistry, set the College record for most rebounds in a single game and was recently named MIAA Player of the Week. Despite the challenge of balancing academics and athletics, Anna says, “The balance is pretty easy to get used to, and Coach Henley is great about working around a demanding academic schedule. You just really have to have your days and weeks planned.”

With a successful season and easy team camaraderie, it’s no surprise that the basketball team spends most of their time together. Sarah Miesle, Saint Mary’s sports information director, explains that teamwork is essential. She says, “[The students] all know their roles and work hard to have fun.”

Aside from basketball and coursework, the basketball team also participates in community service. Last semester, they helped with the Domer Run at the University of Notre Dame. On February 17, the team will celebrate Pink Day in support of breast cancer research, led by the Women’s Basketball Association. Thousands of schools participate every year. To promote the cause, the Saint Mary’s basketball team will wear pink, sell pink baked goods, and give all of their proceeds to a breast cancer foundation. Miesle says, “As a College and an academic department, we emphasize community service as a big part of life.”
—Sarah Sheppard '11